Guide · Updated September 2026
What Is an Audit Trail in E-Signatures?
An audit trail is a chronological record of everything that happened to a document during signing: who it was sent to, when it was opened, and when and how it was signed.
What an audit trail records
Typical entries include when the document was created and sent, signer names and email addresses, when each signer viewed and signed, and technical details such as IP addresses.
Many services also record a fingerprint (hash) of the document so later changes can be detected. Some call the result a certificate of completion.
Why it matters
Electronic signature laws generally focus on intent to sign and on being able to attribute the signature to a person. If a signature is questioned, the audit trail is often the main evidence of who signed and when.
A signature image pasted into a PDF has no such record, which is why services with audit trails are preferred for contracts.
Audit trails in eSignSimple
When you send a document for signature with eSignSimple (early access), the signing process is recorded in an audit trail that you can keep alongside the signed document.
Frequently asked questions
Is an audit trail legally required?
Not always, but it is strong evidence that a signature is genuine and is standard practice for e-signature services.
Can an audit trail be edited?
A well-designed audit trail is generated by the system and protected from editing. Tamper detection often uses a document hash.
Do free PDF signing tools create an audit trail?
Usually not. Signing your own PDF adds a signature image only. Sending for signature through a service creates the audit trail.
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